The Other Witch Hunt of 1692 by Richard Godbeer, Essay Example

Abstract

Escaping Salem will engage each reader who has fallen under the spell of history of witchcraft in New England. But be careful: still strong attraction awaits as the author, Richard Godbeer unfurls his reverting story of how common men and women struggled hard to make sense of the terrors and wonders at work in their Connecticut village.

Introduction

Richard Godbeer, who is also the author of ‘Magic and Religion in Early new England ’,‘ The Devil’s Dominion and Sexual revolution in the Early America, makes a significant contribution to the field of the early American witchcraft studies with the escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1962. Whereas the majority of students are more familiar with famous witch hunt that occurred in Salem during the same year, and consequently may well bring their own presumptions to the subject, the little known scare in Stamford, Connecticut, may offer a better instructional opportunity (Andreski, p56).

Godbeer utilizes or makes use of the anonymity of Stamford witch hunt. In plain and accessible prose, he provides a vivid depiction of Stamford, its people together with their different reactions to Kathleen Branch’s fit and dreams. By establishing the Stamford world, Godbeer brings the readers into the colonial Connecticut and then enhances or makes it possible for  them to be in a position of understanding witchcraft from a different point of view in a broader context.

Witchcraft came out as one alternative among several that may elaborate Branch’s fits. Some assumed that she had been bewitched; some others suspected that she was mentally ill; while some assumed that she was simply faking the whole thing. Possibly, as suggested by him, the readers should really think long concerning whether or not the episode of Salem brought about an unclear perception about the New Englanders and witchcraft.

Probably the Stamford catastrophe was more the norm than the occurrences that took place in Salem. The Intermittent outbreaks of witchcraft in the other colonies definitely suggest this view.

Analysis

Few occurrences in the American history that are well remembered as the Salem witch trials of 1692. But there was another witch hunt during the same year, in the Stamford, Connecticut, which hasn’t received deep examination. Rochard Godbeer defines the ‘Other Witch Hunt’ in a brief, entrancing narrative enlightening the colonial world and breaking the stereotype of the original New Englanders as faster in accusation and condemnation. That stereotype comes as a result of Salem, which was severally different from the other outbreaks of witch-hunting in the area (Bartel, p23-132).

According to the eye-witness testimony testimony, Richard Godbeer narrates the story of Kate Branch, who is aged seventeen by shocking dreams and handed over to the blood-chilling wails of terror and tenderness. Branch claimed that several women tried to bewitch her, two of whom were tried in court for witch craft. The text drives us inside the courtroom, and in the minds of the shockingly skeptical Stamford townsfold.

Was the suffering and screaming as a result of nature, or paranormal causes? Was Branch simply forging the signs? And if it is true that she was bewitched, why believe her particular claims, since her information were got from the evil spirits that may well be deceiving? For those who were the judges, the authors shows, the trial was a lawful thicket. All of them came to terms the witches were posing a serious and real threat, but proving witchcraft (a kind of invisible crime) In court was also another tough issue. The court in Salem had been caught up in uproar over its use of indecisive evidence.

Discussion

This is an imaginative and lively retelling of a gone witchcraft case. We find that the strong story line is well balanced with smart commentary on the context and background. Definitely Godbeer uses the case in opening up a wide view of early New England life at ground level. As a result, he shows a balance of interests and apprehensions that differs extensively from the incessantly hyped picture of Salem witch-craze in exactly the same year.

This book takes students or readers on an informative journey into the mental world of the early America, breaking the stereotype of the early New Englanders as quick blame or indicts and criticizes.

In the after word, the author elaborates his usage of the trial proof in the building of his story, a good look at the historian’s craft enhancing this brilliant account of life in the colonial New England. The use of photos, maps together with a selected bibliography, Escaping Salem is standard for use in the undergraduate United States survey courses. It can as well be used for the courses in the colonial American culture, history, and religion; witchcraft during the early modern world; and crime and society during the early America.

Conclusion

Only few individuals are aware of the fact that whereas the unpopular Salem witch hunt was taking place during the year 1692, the southwestern Connecticut was going through a shock and fright of its own. Richard Godbeer has meticulously and thoroughly done research on this occurrence and comes up with an outstandingly detailed tale based upon the participants’ own words.

He follows the accusers well, those affected, the witches, the ministers as well as the magistrates, from the start of the outbreak to its much more sensible than the Salem conclusion. Actually, seems one could be a witch and manage to steer clear of execution in Old New England. Puritans all, how did the Connecticut keep away from panic and wanton killing? The book tells the story in an interesting, historically accurate fashion (Winship, p21-143).

The book takes the reader into the courtroom as we see some of the problems or difficulties that are encountered during the process of prosecution as well as the challenges that are involved in the proving of witchcraft. It has always been believed that the trials were thrown together to simply convict but we can see that there was absolutely more effort required to convict someone.

Work cited

Andreski, S., Syphilis, Puritanism and Witch Hunts. New York, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Press, 2006. p65

Godbeer, R., Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. p9, 177

Winship, M., The Times and Trials of Anne Hutchinson: Puritans Divided. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2005, p21-143

Bartel, P., Spellcasters: Witches and Witchcraft in History, Folklore, and Popular Culture. Dallas: Taylor Trade, 2000. p23-132